“This was my first professional All-Star game since I joined the organization….”
Choi Jung-jeong (37-SSG Landers) joined the ranks of the “Cigar and Cigar Ceremony” ahead of the All-Star Game on June 6.
The KBO’s concept for this year’s All-Star Game is “The History of Incheon Baseball. It marks the 16th time since 2008 that the All-Star Game has been held in Incheon.
Kim Dong-ki, who led the Pacific Dolphins to their first Korean Series, and Jeong Min-tae, the last 20-win pitcher of the 20th century, were on the field, and Choi Jung was the other. Choi received the ball from Jung Min-tae.
Although he graduated from Yushin High School in Suwon, Choi has become a legend in the Incheon baseball scene, leading to SK-SSG. Choi made his debut with SK in 2005 and through the first half of this year, he has played in 2237 career games, batting .288 with 479 home runs, 1520 RBIs, 1,413 runs scored, and a .920 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).
With 21 home runs this season, Choi has surpassed Lee Seung-yeop’s career home run record of 467.
Choi’s first All-Star Game appearance was in 2008 at Incheon’s Munhak Stadium.
It would be 16 years before the All-Star Game was held in Incheon again, but Choi was at the top of his game and was selected as the best player, earning him his eighth career All-Star Game appearance.
The ‘Literature Stadium’ era will soon be history. SSG is planning to move to Cheongna Dome, which is scheduled to be completed in 2028. 고스톱사이트 Choi’s first professional All-Star Game was in Incheon, and it will be his last All-Star Game at SSG Landers Field.
“My first professional All-Star game was also in Incheon. It’s meaningful that I got to play in the last All-Star Game at Munhak Stadium,” Choi said.
It was also meaningful for him to represent Incheon. Choi said, “I’m honored. Coach Kim Kyung-gyeong taught me a lot when I was younger. It’s been 16 years, and I feel like I’ve gotten older. Representing Incheon makes me realize that I’ve accumulated a lot of experience.”
Choi finished second in the fan vote with 963,312 votes, behind Kim Young-woong (Samsung – 109,976), but was selected as a Best 12 player with 159 votes, 5.40 points ahead of the combined score of 70 votes from the players.
“The players voted for me, and it felt good to be recognized by the same baseball players,” Choi said. “I will continue to do well next season so that I can top the fan vote next time.
As he is now a senior, Choi decided to watch the younger players rather than performing spectacularly at the All-Star Game. “In the past, there were videos of me dressed up as a home run factory manager, but I couldn’t finish watching them. This year, I will watch the junior players’ performances until the end,” he smiled.